Date Night Drop-Off Child Care in NYC for Kids

All parents need a night out without the kids, but finding childcare isn’t always easy. These date night drop-offs in NYC are a great alternative when your regular sitter is sick or the grandparents are away. A lot of these date night drop-offs in NYC are more cost-efficient than a private sitter, plus they come with fun perks for children who get to enjoy activities, like dance parties, movie nights, and a pizza dinner.

Below is a list of the best date night drop-offs in NYC. Be sure to bookmark our list of the top indoor play spaces in New York City and keep an eye on their event calendars for more one-off options, too.

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92nd Street Y Kids Night Out – Upper East Side

Select Friday nights
Ages 5-10
2 hours
Kids are served pizza and can participate in various activities such as gymnastics, games, court sports, crafts, obstacle courses, parkour, and disco light freeze dance. There is also unstructured playtime, so the kids can socialize with friends.

Genius Gems Date Night Drop-Off – Chelsea

Select Saturday nights
Ages 5-12
2 1/2 hours
Children have the opportunity to create Glitter Tiles, build marble shoots, and play with magnetic tiles and robots while earning tokens at this STEM-focused play space. These guided activities encourage learning and creativity through play. Pizza, juice, and water is served, with vegan and gluten-free options available upon request.

JCC Tweens After Dark – Upper West Side

Select Saturday nights
Ages 10-13
2 hours
The Marlene Meyerson JCC provides dinner and engaging, tween-focused activities on select Saturday nights. These big-kid-focused outings are a great place to make friends and build community.

RELATED: School Break Camps: Winter and Spring Break Camps in NYC

Children rock out in their PJs on weekend nights at the New York Kids Club Pajama Party. Photo by Kamps via Pexels

New York Kids Club Pajama Party – Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens

Select weekend evenings, times vary by location
Ages 2 1/2-8
2 hours
A New York Kids Club membership isn't required for these date night drop-offs. Each Kids Club PJ party has its own theme and theme activities to accompany it. Kids are encouraged to play on the gym equipment to get out their energy and participate in creating a theme-related art project. Each session features a disco dance party and pizza dinner to fill their tummies. Check the website of the New York Kids Club nearest you for more info and to register.

PLAY Kids Drop-Off Movie Nights – Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Select Fridays nights
Ages 4-8
2 1/2 hours
Drop off your kids for dinner and a movie with lots of fun and open play at this local indoor playground. Be sure to pre-register for these events as they fill up quickly!

Night Science PJ Parties – Park Slope, Brooklyn

Select dates; visit the website for a schedule
Ages 4 and up
2 hours
The Tiny Scientist is ready to host your tiny scientist for a night out at a science PJ party complete with pizza and juice! They’ll have the opportunity to tackle STEM challenges, play in the lab, and then dance out all their energy at a bubble-filled dance party. Plus, they’ll get to take home their science creation!

Bonus: Hire a Regular Sitter on Mommy Poppins

While it's nice to have a go-to list of sitters at the ready, when you're in a pinch, you can search our directory to find and book a trusted, vetted babysitter through our partnership with Care.com. Use our directory filters to select your location, and choose the “Babysitters & Nannies” category to narrow your search.

Originally published in 2019. Stephanie Ogozalek contributed additional reporting.